Current status: registration is still closed
As of 2 November 2026, registration for the DV-2027 Green Card Lottery is not open. There is no confirmed date for when, or whether, it will open.
The Diversity Visa programme, run by the US Department of State, normally opens registration in the autumn for visas issued in the following fiscal year. For DV-2027, that never happened. The State Department announced changes to the programme in November 2025, and then paused the programme in December 2025 before registration could begin.
A lawsuit filed in August 2026 by Red Eagle Law challenged the failure to open registration. On 14 October 2026, a federal district court in California ordered the State Department to announce a registration schedule by 29 October, open applications by 1 November, and notify selected applicants by 3 December. But on 29 October 2026, the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit issued an emergency stay, pausing that order while the government’s appeal continues. The stay did not cancel the programme, and it did not rule on whether keeping registration closed was lawful. It simply means the 1 November opening will not happen under that court order.
On 1 November 2026, a new lawsuit was filed in Los Angeles asking a federal court to order the State Department to open registration for both DV-2027 and DV-2028. Nothing has changed for applicants yet: no registration is open, and no court has ordered one to open.
One deadline matters more than any other. Diversity visas for a fiscal year can only be issued up to 30 September of that year. For DV-2027, that means no DV-2027 visa can be issued after 30 September 2027, however the legal fight ends.
What the Green Card Lottery actually is
The Diversity Visa programme, created by the Immigration Act of 1990, offers up to 55,000 immigrant visas each fiscal year to people from countries with historically low rates of immigration to the United States. It is decided by random selection, not by family ties, employer sponsorship, or wealth.
Selection is only the first step. Being selected does not guarantee a visa. Selectees must still pass an interview, meet all requirements, and complete the process before the fiscal-year deadline — and visas are limited, so not every selectee receives one.
Who can apply: two requirements
Eligibility turns on two things, and both must be met.
First, country of birth. Eligibility is based on where you were born, not your citizenship or where you live now — including if you already live in the United States. Each year, the State Department excludes countries that sent more than 50,000 immigrants to the United States in the previous five years. For DV-2027, the widely reported ineligible countries include:
- Bangladesh
- Brazil
- Canada
- China (mainland-born)
- Colombia
- Dominican Republic
- El Salvador
- Haiti
- Honduras
- India
- Jamaica
- Mexico
- Nigeria
- Pakistan
- Philippines
- South Korea
- Venezuela
- Vietnam
The only exception to the birth-country rule is chargeability through a spouse or parent: if your spouse was born in an eligible country, you may in some cases claim that country instead. The official DV instructions for the year govern the exact rules, and they should be checked before anyone relies on this route.
Second, education or work experience. An applicant must have completed a high school education or its equivalent (12 years of formal elementary and secondary schooling), or at least two years of work experience within the past five years in an occupation requiring at least two years of training or experience. This is checked at the interview stage, not at entry — but entering without meeting it wastes a selection.
What it means if you already live in the US
Many DV applicants are already in the United States on a temporary visa — students, workers, or visitors. Being in the US does not change the birth-country rule, but it does change the final step. A selectee already in the US may in some cases complete the process through adjustment of status with US Citizenship and Immigration Services, rather than through an interview at a US embassy abroad. Whether that route is available depends on the applicant’s current status and the timing of visa number availability, and it still must be completed before the 30 September 2027 deadline. Anyone in this position should confirm their options early, because a late selection leaves very little room for either route.
What is new for DV-2027
According to published summaries of the DV-2027 rules, two requirements are new for this cycle. The first is a $1 electronic registration fee, paid only on the official entry site. The second is a passport rule: applicants are required to hold a valid passport when they enter, with limited exceptions. Both are departures from earlier years, when entry was free and no passport was needed at the entry stage. Because registration never opened, neither rule has yet been tested in practice, and applicants should confirm both against the official instructions if and when registration opens.
How entry works when registration is open
Entries are submitted only through the official Electronic Diversity Visa site, dvprogram.state.gov. The form must be completed in one sitting, and only one entry per person is allowed — submitting more than one disqualifies the applicant.
The entry requires personal details, a recent photograph meeting the official specifications, and details of a spouse and children where applicable. A wrong photograph is one of the most common reasons entries are rejected, so the photo rules deserve more attention than most applicants give them. After submission, the applicant must keep the confirmation number safe: it is the only way to check the result later.
What happens after selection
Results are checked only through the official Entry Status Check on the DV programme site. The State Department does not notify selectees by email or letter, and any message claiming you have won and asking for money is a scam.
A selectee then submits the immigrant visa application (Form DS-260), prepares supporting documents, and attends an interview at a US embassy or consulate — or, if eligible and already in the US, pursues adjustment of status. Medical examinations, police certificates, and proof of education or work experience are part of that stage. Every step must be completed, and the visa issued, before 30 September 2027 for DV-2027.
Scams to avoid right now
While registration is closed, the scam risk is at its highest. No individual, agent, or website can open registration early, reserve a place, or improve your chances. Anyone asking for payment to “register you for DV-2027” today is selling something that does not exist. The only legitimate entry channel is dvprogram.state.gov, and the only legitimate source for a reopening announcement is the US Department of State.
What applicants should do now
First, do not pay anyone for DV-2027 entry while registration is closed. Second, check whether your country of birth is eligible under the DV-2027 list, and whether you meet the education or work requirement — those two facts decide whether applying is even worthwhile. Third, keep your passport valid and your documents ready, so that if registration does open on a short timeline, you are not caught out. And fourth, watch the State Department’s official announcements, not social media claims, for any reopening date.
Frequently asked questions
Is the DV-2027 lottery cancelled?
No. It is suspended and the subject of ongoing litigation. The Ninth Circuit’s stay paused a court order to reopen it; it did not end the programme.
Can I apply for DV-2027 right now?
No. Registration is not open as of 2 November 2026, and there is no confirmed opening date.
I already live in the US. Can I still enter?
Yes, if your country of birth is eligible and you meet the education or work requirement. Living in the US does not disqualify you, and it may allow adjustment of status instead of consular processing if you are selected.
Does selection guarantee a green card?
No. Selection only gives you the chance to apply for a visa. You must still qualify at interview, and visas must be issued before 30 September 2027.
Where do I check results?
Only through the official Entry Status Check at dvprogram.state.gov, using your confirmation number.
